People on the move, whether they are economic migrants or forcibly displaced persons such asylum seekers, refugees, and internally displaced persons, should be explicitly included in the responses to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic (COVID-19). This global public health emergency brings into focus, and may exacerbate, the barriers to healthcare these populations face. Many migrant & refugee populations live in conditions where physical distancing and recommended hygiene measures are particularly challenging. The COVID-19 pandemic reveals the extent of marginalisation migrant & refugee populations face. We have developed a resource platform to encourage knowledge sharing across different regions globally and to highlight the need to include migrants and refugees in the COVID-19 response.

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Lancet Migration Global Statement and Call to Action on COVID-19

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Read our global statement 'Leaving no one behind in the COVID-19 Pandemic: a call for urgent global action to include migrants in the COVID-19 response'

This series of situational and policy briefs summarise key aspects of the COVID-19 response in relation to migrants and refugees at country or regional level. They include public health and policy recommendations and perspectives to ensure migrants and refugees have: access to healthcare; inclusion in prevention, preparedness and response; and responsible and transparent public information strategies, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The concept for these briefs was developed by the Lancet Migration global collaboration to advance migration health.The situational briefs have been authored by experts working in academia, operational, or clinical areas of migration and COVID-19, and are hosted on the Lancet Migration website. Situational and policy briefs represent the views of the authors.

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Resources & Guidance

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International statements and guidance documents

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Statements from UNCHR, the IRC, and a joint statement from OHCHR, IOM, UNHCR and WHO also call for the rights and health of migrants and refugees to be protected in the Covid-19 response.

The ‘Migration and COVID-19 Forum’ is currently being formed as a place for discussion and sharing of resources and field experiences about Migration and COVID-19 response. If you are interested in joining the forum please enter your details here.